Revolving kite.



W. VAN W115.-

REVOLVING KITE.

APPLICATION FILED 1123.22, 1909.

Patented Aug. 2, 1910.

WALTER VAN WIE, OF SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA.

REVOLVING KITE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 2, 1910.

Application filed April 22, 1909. Serial No. 491,453.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, \VAL'rnn VAN VVIE, a citizen of the United States,residing at San Diego, in the county of San Diego and State ofCalifornia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inRevolving Kites, of

which the following is aspecification.

A further object is to provide means for securing the vanesin such amanner that the full force of the air current will be utilized.

A further object of my invention is to provide a new and novel mountingfor the kite frame by means of which the friction due to the rotation ofthe same will be reduced to a minimum.

A further object is to provide means by which the 0st or standard towhich the kite frame 1s connected is maintained at an inclination andprevented from rotating.

With these and other objects in view, the present invention consistsin'the combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter morefully described, and articularly pointed out in the appended claims, itbeing understood that changes in the specific structure shown anddescribed may be made within the scope of the claims without departingfrom the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings forming a portion of this specification, and in whichlike numerals of reference indicate similar parts in the several views,Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved rotatory kite, Fig. 2 isan enlarged vertical section of the upper end of standard illustratingthe mounting of the rotatable shaft, Fig. 3 1s a detail perspective viewof one of the vanes detached, Fig. 4 is a transverse section on the line44 of Fig. 2, Fig. 5 is a detail view of one of the vanes illustrating aslightly modified construction.

In the drawings, 1 indicates a circular frame the ends ofwhich overlapand are secured together by the screws 3. Equally spaced from each otherand secured to the frame are the wings or vanes 4. These vanes aretriangular in shape and comprise a wooden frame 5 covered by stout paper5 preferably oiled. At each of the vertices of the vanes a string 6 isattached, one of which is slightly greater in length than the remainingtwo. One of the shorter strings is for the purpose of securing the vanesat their inner vertices, the other being tied to the frame 1. The longerstrings are also secured to the frame but so as to allow the vanesconsiderable play and as shown in Fig. 1 they roject outwardly at anacute angle to the rame. Secured to the frame at three equidistantpoints and to the vertices of the vanes in the center thereof are thecords 7. These cords have their outer ends secured to the end of a shortshaft 8, which is rotatably secured in the upper end of a member 10, thecenter of gravity of which is located below the shaft 8, and whichmember will be termed a pendule. To provide a bearing surface for thehead 8 of'said shaft, I secure thereto the Wear plate 9, provided with acentral boss 11. The ends of the plate 9 are bent and firmly clamped tothe' post 10. The shaft 8 extends entirely through the pendule and theheadS thereof bears against the boss. formed on the plate 9 which isgreatly restricted in diameter thereby reducing the friction to aminimum. The pendule 10 has one of its vertical surfaces 12 beveled. Itis principally by means of this beveled surface that the pendule ismaintained in an approximately "constant position with respect to thevertical when the air currents impinge against the same. Were thesurfaces of the pendule 10 cut at right angles to each other, thependule itself would be liable to rotate in a wind ofany very greatvelocity. The beveled side of the pendule is so disposed as to opposeits rotary tendency to the friction of the shaft on the wear plate. Uponeither side of the shaft is secured a short cord 13 which is connectedto the operating cord 14. This arrangement of the cords is also anaid inmaintaining the pendule in a substantial? vertical position andovercoming any ten ency of the'same to rotate with the frame.

The vanes 4 are securely held against any movement due to centrifugalforce, when the 3 sutiicieut outward play of the vanes is secured toallow for the free passage of the air currents between the same thusprevent.- iug the damaging of the vanes. As the wind impinges againstthe vanes, the frame and the shaft mounted in the upper end of thependule will be rotated. On account of the disposition of the vanes inthe frame 1, it. will take but a very light current of'air to producethe desired rotation of the same. It may be found desirable tosupplantthe long string by an elastic connection adapted to yield topressure on the vane so that as the wind becomes greater, the angles atwhich the vanes lie with respect to the dircction of the wind, willbecome less acute and relieve strain on the kite.

An object of the frame 1 is to provide a gyroscopic element tending toovercome irregular and unsteady movement in the kite.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have devised a kite which isextremely simple and inexpensive in construction, and in which thevarious parts can readily be replaced when they become worn or broken atbut a trifling cost. I

In Fig. 5, I have shown a slightly modified form of the vanes whichwould preferably be employed when only an extremely light wind isavailable. In this form I provide a triangle of stout cord or twine 14:and secure thereto a piece of cloth 15 of similar shape. The cloth ismade a trifle large so that it will catch and hold the Wind, bellyingoutward and revolving the kite frame. By this means the rotation of thekite is assured, however light the wind may be.

What is claimed is 1. In a device of the class described, thecombination with a rotatable frame, of vanes secured to said frame andto each other, a pendule having one of its sides laterally beveled,connections between said frame and pendule, and a cord secured to saidpendule for the purpose set forth. 7

2. In a device of'the class described, the combination with a circularrotatable frame, of vanes secured to the frame and to each other, apendule, a shaft rotatably mounted in said pendule, a plurality of cordsconnecting the frame to the shaft, and another cord secured to saidpendule for the purpose set forth.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination with a rotatablecircular frame, of triangular vanes each having one of its verticessecured at the center of said frame, means for securing said vanes tosaid frame,

a pendule, a shaft rotatably mounted in said pendule, cords connectingthe frame and the teams said vertices of said vanes to said shaft, and acord secured to said pendule for the purpose set forth.

4. In a device. of the class described, the combination with a rotatablecircular frame, of triangular vanes provided at each of their verticeswith a cord, one of said cords of each vane being longer than theothers, one of the shorter cords of each of said vanes being securedtogether at the center of said frame, the remaining cords being securedto the periphery of said frame, a pendule, a shaft rotatably mounted insaid pendule, cords connecting the frame and the vertices of said vanesat their points of connection to said shaft, and a cord secured to saidpendule for the purpose set forth.

5. In a device of the class described, the combination with a circularframe, of triangular vanes provided at each of their vertices with acord, the cords connected to the inner vertices being secured togetherat the center of the frame, the remaining cords being secured to theperiphery of the frame, one of said last mentioned cords being ofgreater length than the other, a pendule having one of its sidesbeveled. a shaft rotatably mounted in one end of said pendule, a wearingplate provided with a central boss secured to said pendule, cordsconnecting said frame and the centrally positioned connected vertices ofsaid vanes to said shaft, cords connected to said pendule upon eitherside of said shaft and to another cord, substantially as and for thepurpose set forth.

(3. In a device of the class described, the combination with a rotatablemember, of a pendule revolubly connected therewith having one of itssides beveled for engagement by wind pressure to hold the penduleagainst rotation with said rotatable member.

7. In a kite, supporting plane surfaces concentrically arranged andinclined to produce rotation thereof, and an annular member carriedthereby for gyroscopic action, and controlling means engaged with thedevice.

8. In a device of the class described, a plurality of concentricallyarranged lifting vanes inclined to produce rotation thereof in a commondirection for gyroscopic governing of the device, a revoluble memberconnected'to the vanes and a controlling member carried thereby.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature, in presence of two Witnesses.

WALTER VAN WIE.

Witnesses:

BESSIE HENNING, MAY ATKINS.

